19th Ward Heroes: Let's Honor Those Making A Difference

CHICAGO — The adage 'not all heroes wear capes' is one that's apparent in society now, more than ever. Countless people are putting themselves in danger by simply showing up to work in essential roles for our communities, risking possible infection from the new coronavirus. Doctors, nurses, police and grocery store workers alike are just some of the professions with a high potential for exposure to the virus.

Some of these everyday heroes we spot around Beverly, Mount Greenwood and Morgan Park might not even be working at a job. But others, like S&T Provisions owner Brian Giaretta, put their great ideas to good use to help the community. Giaretta organized a small business "mega raffle" to raise more than $225,000 for other small businesses in the community. There's also Rhett Graves, the Mount Greenwood neighborhood realtor who purchased hundreds of dollars worth of restaurant gift cards and randomly gave them away to a few of the people who follow his Facebook page.

We know you've encountered or seen them around town, and we want to help recognize as many of these heroes as possible. Let us know about those making a difference in this difficult time by filling out the form below and we'd be happy to share their impact with the rest of the community.